Upgrading an old TIU

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vantec...5:g:m6cAAOSwvU5XNLjo

12.00

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sabren...%26sd%3D331854476949

either of these to will work !8.00 is much longer ok.

good luck

Alan

these are usb to serial adapters which will working perfectly, don't forget you need stereo 3.5 adaper cable to transfer 5.0 to tiu ok must be stereo cord! 

You must do a remote reset after upgrading a remote from version 2.#.  I don't recall if a reset is needed after a tiu upgrade.  It's been many years since I've done an upgrade from V2.  Someone please chime in.

let us know how you made out with the upgrade ok@

Alan

Robert,

You must do a remote reset after upgrading a remote from version 2.#. I don't recall if a reset is needed after a tiu upgrade.

Yes, a TIU is necessary.

Guys, I think I'm in a post that's on topic? Correct me if I need to post somewhere else. I have a TIU/remote and a couple of AIU's I inherited from my late father-- they were purchased new in 2002, and as far as I know, have never been upgraded-- they've been in storage since 2004. They seem to be working, but I'm not sure how to figure out what firmware is installed on them-- when booted up, the remote says version 2.00, copywrite 2002, so is that the firmware version? A few questions related to that-- should I, and if so, HOW should I, attempt to upgrade these? Do I similarly need to upgrade the AIU's? And lastly, GGG rebuilt one of my father's old MTH locomotives and in-process upgraded it to PS 3.0-- but I now don't seem to be able to add it to this DCS version (I'm not surprised). Any help or direction-setting here would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

The software in the remote and the TIU should be upgraded to the latest version.  See Barry's note above.  A TIU purchased in 2002 probably was a Rev. G, the original.  Any other (later) version would have a sticker on the bottom.  The original Rev Gs had a design defect which caused a failure rather quickly.  MTH /repaired/reworked them under warranty.  If yours wasn't done, its life is iffy; I have two which MTH did repair/rework, and they are still in service.

From the MTH site, download a program called "Loader."  You will also have to obtain a 1/8" to 1/8" stereo cable (can be a few inches long) and a USB>serial cable to connect a modern computer to the TIU (Most modern computers don't have a serial cable port).

thank you! I'm familiar with the concept for upgrading the TIU-- will that then upgrade the remote as well? And does the AIU need a similar firmware upgrade? And there's no way to determine if MTH reworked it, huh? Thanks again!

@Sparticus posted:

Guys, I think I'm in a post that's on topic? Correct me if I need to post somewhere else. I have a TIU/remote and a couple of AIU's I inherited from my late father-- they were purchased new in 2002, and as far as I know, have never been upgraded-- they've been in storage since 2004. They seem to be working, but I'm not sure how to figure out what firmware is installed on them-- when booted up, the remote says version 2.00, copywrite 2002, so is that the firmware version? A few questions related to that-- should I, and if so, HOW should I, attempt to upgrade these? Do I similarly need to upgrade the AIU's? And lastly, GGG rebuilt one of my father's old MTH locomotives and in-process upgraded it to PS 3.0-- but I now don't seem to be able to add it to this DCS version (I'm not surprised). Any help or direction-setting here would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Shout out to Train World @KenJrTW for making these videos. They will guide you through the whole process:

Connecting the TIU for upgrading the Firmware: YOUTUBE LINK

Installing the MTH DCS Consumer Loader program: YOUTUBE LINK

Uploading Firmware to your DCS Remote: YOUTUBE LINK

This video is not produced by Train World but gives a good overview of how to update the Firmware on the TIU: YOUTUBE LINK

The AUI doesn't need any firmware updates, The Remote and TIU are upgraded through separate processes using the DCS Loader program.

The AIUs do not upgrade.  They are pretty much a box of relays.  The V2.00 is the remote version.  The TIU version could be different but I doubt it.  Using the remote, you have to go into the System Menu>TIU SETUP>TIU VERSION.  It will display on the remote screen.

TheTIU firmware and the remote firmware are upgraded separately.  When doing the TIU, you'll have the stereo cable connecting 2 ports on the TIU and the remote will not be connected.  For the remote, REMOVE THE STEREO CABLE and connect TIU and remote with the telephone handset cable.

The Loader software and excellent on-screen step-by-step instructions.  Follow them to the letter.  If a process fails, unpower TIU, then repower and start from scratch

Yet more free advice that's priceless.  Thanks to all who contributed.

Note for software that old, when you upgrade to 6.1 you will have to do a factory reset of both the remote and the TIU.  That also means you lose all the engines, routes, etc. that are stored, you have to re-enter all your info, you're starting "factory fresh".

Wow, this is immensely helpful. Thank you, everyone! So, update: a new issue has just presented itself with the TIU as I was preparing to order the cables needed to accomplish this. I will search other posts, but the red light on the TIU wouldn't come on when I started up the Z-4000 it's connected to tonight. I disconnected and confirmed it was connected properly to the fixed output/input but nothing. I then followed a suggestion in another thread about powering the TIU with a 12v adapter, which turned the light back on. But still when the 12v adapter is unplugged from the TIU, even with the Z-4000 still connected/on, I get no red light from the TIU anymore. Maybe this is the issue RJR posted about with Rev G above? I'll search a bit more, unless someone has a quick suggestion.

Take the board out of the bottom of the case and look at the bottom side.  If you see a brown line inside the PCB, that's a blown power trace for FIXED #1, that's not something that can be repaired.  This happens to the Rev. G (original TIU) with power overloads as they have undersized power traces and no fuses.

Ok so I definitely seem to have a revision G (no fuses)? And I don’t see a brown line. Here’s a couple of photos—-bottom side photo shows fixed 1 in. Thoughts?

If the wrong barrel is used on the AUX power it may not reset the metal tab and has Fix 1 input disconnected from TIU circuit.  You will have output on F1 terminal, but no power to TIU.  Screw drive can sometimes pry tab back down, but if it has been stretched too much it may not return next time you use aux power.  G

Thank you guys for all your help. In the end, it was the fuses in the Z4000 for the fixed circuits--they were tripped, so now all seems to be back and functioning.  I'll order the cables now for the upgrade. Here's one last question, since I've learned I have the original model TIU-- is there any benefit to installing an external fuse on any of the connectors for the TIU, since there aren't any internal fuses on my model? Thanks again.

Yes. I would install a 10A fast blow fuse on the hot (red) side of each output.

Chris

LVHR

I agree with Chris, most certainly install some fuses, the original G model had traces that weren't as wide as the later models, so it's even more important to protect them with fast acting circuit protection.